Treatment for Raynaud Syndrome :: essays research papers

Treatment for Raynauds - 2 -IntroductionRaynaud syndrome is an auto-immune overthrow in which blood vessels in the digits constrict. It usually strikes females between the ages of eighteen and thirty. Between 3 to five percent of people ar affected. (Harvard, 2003) There is no cognize ca commit or cure. (Segala et al, 2003) Clinical features primarily deal with (but are not limited to) the digits of the fingers. Other digits that may be affected include toes, nose, and capitulum lobes. Exposure to common cold and emotional stress triggers the vasoconstriction of the digits. It was originally described by the Catholic, French physician Maurice Raynaud in 1862. In this condition, the vasospastic response is more a great deal induced by exposure to cold temperatures and is often accompanied by digital color changes. After onset, a tri-color change blanching (white), cyanosis (blue), and reactive hyperaemia (red) occurs. Pallor (blanching) shows vasospasm and loss of arterial blood flow, cyanosis shows the deoxygenation of static venous blood, and ignition (red) shows reactive hyperemia following return of blood flow. (Bowling, 2003) Theories for the causes of Raynaud syndrome include arterial wall damage, connective wander disease (CTD), or repetitive use of vibrational tools. (Ko, 2002) There are various methods of diagnosing Raydaund syndrome. Cold pee emersion is one method. In this method, patients hands are immersed in cold water to observe any clinical features. Another mode of diagnosing looks at medical conditions that are associated with Raynaud syndrome, such as CTD, scleroderma, and lupus. A troika technique includes physical examination of the ulnar and radial vessels, nail folds in the capillaries, presence of digital inflammation, sclerodactyly (sleroderma, hardening of the skin, of the fingers and toes), or telangiectasia (chronic dilation of groups of capillaries Treatment for Raynauds - 3 -that cause dark red blotches on the skin, usually on the face). Laboratory tests are another consideration of diagnosis. Tests consist of anti-nuclear anti-body (ANA) counts and anti-topoisomerase (an enzyme that reduces super-coiling in desoxyribonucleic acid by breaking and rejoining one or both strands of DNA). High ANAs and low anti-topoisomerases are found in patients with Raynaud syndrome. (Desai, 2003) Patients with circulating autoantibodies, antinuclear antibodies, and anti-Scl 70 antibodies are at (an) increased risk of developing a connective tissue disease. Systemic sclerosis is the connective tissue disease most much associated with Raynauds phenomenon. (Bowling, 2003) This syndrome is described as primary Raynaud phenomenon (PRP) if is not associated with another disorder and as secondary Raynaud phenomenon (SRP) if it occurs in association with another disorder.